Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) on Saturday appointed Sadhana Kinnar, a transgender, as Social Development Officer.

This is for the first time in India that a transgender has been appointed in the private sector. Sadhana Kinnar was originally known as Sadhana Mishra. Hailing from Keonjhar town, she is well educated having Master’s Degree in Social Work and Business Administration.

She has been doing work in field of gender Identity, gender discrimination, social mainstreaming of transgender and development of underprivileged children and women for the last 14 years in Bhubaneswar. In past, she has been associated with development organisations like Sakha, Lepra Society, HIV AIDs Alliance, Sathi and UNDP. In October 2016, Sadhana underwent international visitors’ leadership programme in USA for one month. Expressing his happiness, Dr Achyuta Samanta, founder, KIIT University & KISS said, the appointment will contribute to change the mindset of the society.